UN Climate Change Executive Secretary says stronger implementation, climate finance and clean-energy investment are needed to bring global warming back below the Paris Agreement threshold.
By Bunmi Yekini
The world must accelerate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate impacts after global warming is set to temporarily exceed the 1.5°C threshold, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary said on Monday.
Speaking at the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) Industry Acceleration Summit, the official said exceeding the limit was now guaranteed for at least a period, citing a recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
“By doing something about it: Building resilience. And cutting greenhouse gas pollution faster – to bring the temperature rise back below 1.5 degrees as quickly as possible,” the official said.
Holding the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C this century is demanded by science and agreed by nations under the Paris Agreement, the official said, stressing the need for greater international cooperation to turn existing climate commitments into action.
UN-convened cooperation and national efforts had helped reduce projected global warming from more than 4°C to about 2.6°C, the official said, describing the progress as significant but insufficient to avoid severe climate impacts.
The remarks came as renewable energy investment and capacity continue to expand. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported that 693 gigawatts of renewable capacity were added last year, the official said, while clean energy attracted more than $2 trillion in investment.
The official said the progress was important in countering climate disinformation and demonstrating that the transition to a lower-carbon economy remained possible.
But countries must now narrow the gap between their climate pledges and implementation, with this expected to be a central focus of upcoming UN climate conferences, the official said.
At COP31 in Türkiye and COP32 in Ethiopia next year, governments would need to accelerate implementation through stronger institutions, faster technology transfer and improved access to higher-quality climate finance, the official said.
The official also called for stronger action through the UN climate process, including greater coordination between governments and the private sector and a strengthened Action Agenda bringing together businesses, investors, governments, cities and regions.
The ITA, which focuses on accelerating industrial decarbonisation, had already recorded progress, with 19 commercial-scale projects reaching final investment decisions in the first half of the year, representing an estimated $43 billion in investment, the official said.
The official also highlighted carbon dioxide removal as part of the response needed to return global temperatures to 1.5°C, while stressing that it could not replace the transition away from fossil fuels.
“Cutting emissions, like building resilience, will always be essential,” the official said.
Artificial intelligence could also play a role in tackling climate challenges, including improving early-warning systems for climate disasters and increasing electricity-grid efficiency, the official said.
But the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI systems was also increasing emissions and energy costs, while raising concerns about water use, the official said.
Technology companies should set credible climate targets, improve efficiency, disclose their energy and water consumption and power data centres with renewable energy, the official said.
The broader climate crisis was already affecting economies and livelihoods through extreme heat, disasters, pressure on health systems, reduced crop yields and higher food prices, the official said.
“Now’s the time to double down on climate multilateralism, the bedrock of the world’s progress so far,” the official said.
The official said countries had agreed at COP30 that the Paris Agreement was working and that efforts would continue to make implementation “go further and faster.”